Raymond Ford wins WBA title with Shocking 12th Round TKO

VERONA, NY – Raymond Ford, a native of Camden, New Jersey, finished his first main event fight for the WBA World Featherweight title at the Turning Stone Resort with an unexpected 12th-round technical knockout over Otabek Kholmatov with just seven seconds remaining.

Kholmatov dominated the fight, swinging in the first four rounds with precision and aggression, landing multiple overhand left jabs that kept Ford on the defensive. In the fifth round, Ford, known for his resilience, began to find his rhythm with a barrage of hard-hitting jabs that forced Kholmatov to readjust his strategy.

Raymond Ford faces the undefeated Otabek Kholmatov in the beginning rounds. Photo by: Patricia Duong

As the fight continued, both fighters traded blows back and forth, keeping the crowd roaring. Falling behind on the judge’s scorecards, Ford began to assert his dominance in the later rounds, landing a devastating left uppercut in the eighth and a straight left in the tenth that seemed to rock Kholmatov.

“I started off a little slow. I felt I didn’t have the energy and the legs to be the sharper boxer I know I can be. That was due to a tough weight cut. So, this may be my last fight at 126. Then, we’ll go up to 130 and call out the champions there,” said Ford.

Ford falling behind coming into the final rounds of the match. Photo by: Patricia Duong

But just when it seemed like Kholmatov had the upper hand, Ford let go of a flurry of punches in the twelfth round as he heard the crowd rooting for his victory. With seven seconds left on the clock, Ford delivered a powerful right hook that sent Kholmatov crashing into the corner and his legs unsteady.

“I knew I had to stop him. The rounds were too close. I just had to bring that dog out that my coaches were talking about. I always knew I had it in me. I come from a rough background. There’s nothing that can stop me. Ever,” Ford said.

Otabek Kholmatov falls to the ground in the final moments of the last round. Photo by: Patricia Duong

The referee, Charlie Fitch, stepped in and declared the stoppage, declaring Ford the champion. “I didn’t even hear him say ‘And New.’ I was just so in the moment. This is a blessing.”

Raymond “Savage” Ford is the first person to beat Kholmatov and has won his 15th professional fight. In the post-fight interview, Ford expressed moving up in weight after winning his first professional title, describing how difficult it was to make weight for this bout.